Tart Cherry Pie Filling

Jun 28, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

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A juicy, sliceable tart cherry pie filling for one 9-inch pie. Makes one 9-inch pie (8 servings).

Prep 30 min

Cook 65 min

Cool 3 hr

Total 4 hr 35 min

Servings 8

Diet —

Ingredients

Adjust yield

servings

5.0 cups (775.0 g)tart cherries, pitted, fresh or thawed frozen
1.0 cup (200.0 g)granulated sugar
4.0 tbsp (32.0 g)cornstarch
¼ tspfine sea salt
1.0 tbsp (15.0 ml)fresh lemon juice
1.0 tbsp (14.0 g)unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
1.0 (50.0 g)large egg, beaten with 1 tablespoon milk, for brushing
1.0pastry for a double-crust 9-inch pie, homemade or store-bought, chilled

Make it at home

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Instructions

Place a rack in the lowest position of the oven, set a rimmed baking sheet on it, and heat the oven to 425°F.
In a small bowl, whisk the sugar, cornstarch, and salt so the cornstarch doesn't clump.
In a large bowl, toss the tart cherries with the lemon juice, then add the sugar mixture and toss until evenly coated. Let stand for 15 minutes, until juicy.
Roll out half of the pastry and fit it into a 9-inch pie plate. Spoon in the filling and its juices, mounding it slightly in the center, and dot with the butter.
Roll out the remaining pastry and lay it over the filling (or weave a lattice). Trim, seal, and crimp the edges. Cut 4 or 5 vents in a solid top crust. Brush the top with the egg wash.
Bake on the hot baking sheet for 20 minutes. Reduce the oven to 375°F and bake until the crust is deep golden and the juices bubble thickly through the vents in the center of the pie, 35 to 50 minutes more. Cover the edges with foil if they brown too fast.
Cool on a wire rack for at least 3 hours before slicing; the filling thickens as it cools.

Tips

Let the filling bubble in the center, not just at the edges; cornstarch needs to boil to thicken.
Vanilla boost: add 1/2 to 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract with the other flavorings for a rounder, warmer flavor.
Storage: Keep covered at room temperature for 1 day, then refrigerate for up to 3 days more.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make tart cherry pie filling?

Plan on 30 minutes of prep and 65 minutes of cooking, plus 3 hours to cool. It makes one 9-inch pie (8 servings).

How should I store tart cherry pie filling?

Keep covered at room temperature for 1 day, then refrigerate for up to 3 days more.

A juicy, sliceable tart cherry pie filling for one 9-inch pie. Makes one 9-inch pie (8 servings).

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 8 servings this recipe makes.

494 Calories / serving

20.9g Fat

74.3g Carbs

5.0g Protein

38.2g Sugar

Whole recipe (8 servings): ~3952 cal · 167g fat · 594g carbs · 40g protein · 306g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.

Per serving · 494 calories

What it takes to burn one serving

Brisk walking 93 min·5.4 mi·~10900 steps
Walking uphill or incline treadmill 67 min·3.4 mi·~6700 steps
Moderate cycling 50 min·10.0 mi
Swimming laps 69 min
Jogging 48 min·4.0 mi·~7700 steps
Stair climbing 46 min·~4150 steps
Dancing 80 min
Bodyweight circuit training 50 min
Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 115 min

Rough estimates for one serving, based on standard MET values at about 155 lb. Your own burn depends on body size, effort, and fitness. Shown for context only — food is not something you have to earn.